The Red-Headed League

Characters in the play:

Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective
Doctor Watson, his friend and assistant
Jabez Wilson, a red-haired shopkeeper
Vincent Spaulding, Mr. Wilson's assistant
Duncan Ross, a man with red hair

Scene 1 (they are in the shop)

SPAULDING Look! I found something for you, Mr. Wilson, WILSON
What? (Looks at Spaulding) .
SPAULDING Listen “To all red-headed men, twenty-one years old or
more - the Red-Headed League can now take a new man. We pay four
pounds a week to do easy work. (To Wilson) You can get two
hundred pounds a year!
WILSON Really?
SPAULDING You have very red hair, Mr. Wilson. You should go!
WILSON Okay! Come on!

Scene 2 (they are in the place of red hair league)

ROSS Next!
The door opens and Spaulding and Wilson come in. Ross looks at
Wilson and gets excited.
SPAULDING This is Mr. Wilson, and he wants to be in the League.
(Ross gets up and walks past the table to meet them.)
ROSS And he has a good head of hair. (He suddenly puts out a hand
and puts Wilson's Wilson 's hair.)
ROSS It's all right. You have that wonderful head of hair. When can
you begin work here?
WILSON It's not easy. I have a shop, and ...
SPAULDING I can stay in the shop, Mr. Wilson.
WILSON What hours must I work?
ROSS Ten o'clock to two o'clock. Four pounds a week./
WILSON What should I do?
ROSS You must copy from this large book, and you must bring paper
and a pen. Can you begin tomorrow?
WILSON Yes, I can.
ROSS (Smiling) Then goodbye, Mr. Jabez Wilson.
Wilson and Spaulding leave the office.

Scene 3 (at Sherlock’s office)

HOLMES Come in, my dear Watson! This is Mr. Jabez Wilson. He is
telling me a very strange story. (To Wilson) This is Doctor Watson.
He's a good friend. Give him the paper to read.
(Wilson gives the newspaper to Watson.)
HOLMES He does a lot of writing, Watson. Do you see? WILSON
Oh! How did you know that, Mr. Holmes? HOLMES The right arm of
your coat is different from the left. Your arm is on the table when you
write.
WILSON (Laughing) Yes, that's right!
WATSON (Finishes reading and looks at Holmes.) It's very strange,
Holmes.
HOLMES Now, Mr. Wilson, tell us about your shop. WILSON It's a
little shop, and it doesn't make much money. HOLMES Does
somebody help you in the shop?
WILSON Yes, a young man, Vincent Spaulding. He's very good at his
work. He likes to take photographs when he's not working. And he
makes the pictures in my dark cellar.
HOLMES How did you first see the newspaper advertisement? Tell us
that.
WILSON Spaulding saw it and whowed to me. Then we went to
Duncan’s office.
HOLMES Yes. What happened next?
WILSON Well, I was very happy. But it was strange.
WATSON Very strange, yes.
WILSON But the next morning I began my work. Mr. Ross was there,
but he soon went away.
HOLMES Tell me about him, this Vincent Spaulding. WILSON He's
small, and a good, quick worker.
HOLMES Where is he now? WILSON He's at the shop. HOLMES
That is all, Mr. Wilson. Today is Saturday. I am going to have an
answer for you before Monday.
WILSON Thank you, Mr. Holmes.
Watson goes out with Wilson. Holmes walks up and down, thinking.
HOLMES We must work quickly, Watson. Put on your hat. Let's go!

Scene 4 (at the shop)

SPAULDING Can I help you?
HOLMES Yes. How can I get to the Strand?
SPAULDING Third on the right, and then on the left.
He goes back into the shop and closes the door.
WATSON Why did you ask about the Strand?
HOLMES I wanted to see his trousers.
WATSON His trousers? I don't understand.
HOLMES My dear Doctor, this is not the time for talking. I must go.
Are you going to your work?
WATSON Yes, I must go to the hospital.
HOLMES But I want your help tonight. Come at 10 o'clock. And
Watson—
WATSON Yes, Holmes?
HOLMES Bring your gun

Scene 5 (catching the thieves)

HOLMES Sshh! They are coming out.
SPAULDING (To Ross) Now, have you got—?
With his light, Holmes comes out from behind his box, and catches
Spaulding.
SPAULDING What—!
Ross quickly gets back into the tunnel. Holmes hits Spaulding's arm.
Now the gun is on the ground.
HOLMES You can't get away, John Clay!
SPAULDING No. But my friend—
HOLMES Watson will catch him too, don’t worry!
SPAULDING You think of everything, Mr. Holmes. You're very
clever.
HOLMES Your Red-Headed League was clever, too. But I am
pleased to catch the famous John Clay!